It is March! Do you know what that means? It is my month in the Bee Connected Quilting Bee! If these blocks look familiar it is because I made one a few months ago for a member of another bee, and I fell in love with the block. So simple, but stunning, and a great showcase for some fussy cut prints. The block is named "Quatrefoil" and is from the Modern Blocks book, and is designed by Solidia Hubbard. I chose Aneela Hoey's "Little Apples" line of fabrics (I found a fat eighth set for a steal) and Kona Charcoal for the solid. Each block will be completely unique, with different fabric prints in each block. I can't wait to see the blocks my bee mates create for me!

I was bound and determined to get my bee blocks done for the month of February. I know that everyone in my quilting bees totally understood that I just had a baby, and were in no means in a rush at all, but since I committed to all these bees (with the exception of one) before I was even pregnant, I really wanted to have them done in a timely manner. Every second of free time for the past three-four weeks has been spent steadily cutting, sewing and putting these blocks together, and boy was it nice to have a little sewing time. I honestly think I needed it to stay sane, and I'm totally not just saying that. I think sewing is in my blood.

The first block is for "alixbroadfoot" in my newest group, Modern Blocks Bee which is the group based on the Modern Blocks book. Alix chose "Boxed In" on pages 34-35, and used the new fabric line Stitched in Color, which is so vibrant, so much more than my picture depicts. It will be a striking quilt. This block was actually very simple and went together really quickly. I love it.

Next up are two string blocks for "aPlayOnNature" in the Quilting newBEEs group. Judy sent us a great selection of Christmas Fabrics, and I can't wait to see how this quilt turns out. It will be so festive, and I love the selection of Christmas prints, so fun!

This one was a bit of a challenge for me. It is a Supernova block designed by Lee over at Freshly Pieced. It is for "hettie k" in the Always Bee Learning group and she chose two Lizzy House lines of fabric for this quilt, 1001 Peeps and Castle Peeps. I honestly think this is one of my favorite blocks I have made so far, but I struggled with it quite a bit. It really isn't that difficult, I just didn't want to mess anything up! I really spent some time making sure the directional fabrics lined up correctly, and that all those diagonals came out right also. Though it was a challenge for me, it really was fun, and I know that this will be a gorgeous quilt. I didn't want to send this block back, but rather fancied keeping it for myself, but alas, I was a good girl and sent it to live with Hettie like I was supposed to!

Last but not least are some simple wonky crosses for "sternwerfer*" in the Bee Connected group. She sent a great selection of prints, and only requested two blocks, but once I realized they were so easy and quick to put together, I cut some of each fabric print and ended up making five blocks. I love the red, aqua and white combination of fabrics, very pretty! These are currently traveling across the ocean to go live in Germany.

I am quite proud of myself for getting all of these blocks done, plus I finished three other blocks that I will share sometime this week. March is my month in the Bee Connected group, and in addition to sewing up these blocks, I had to make packets to mail out to the group also! I am so happy to say that they are mailed and my part is done, yippee!

In my wildest dreams I never thought it would take me this long to post about our newest family member, so I do apologize to those of you anxiously awaiting photos. Here he is, our 8 pound 10 ounce, 21.25" long bundle of joy. Born on January 24, 2012 at 7:26 am (which ironically, 7/26 is our wedding anniversary, how cool is that?) Arriving via a planned c-section, he entered this world healthy and cute as could be, but I am rather biased and in love with this little one. We had some real smiles this week, which is awesome. It is always amazing to me how quickly they change and how quickly it all goes by. We are slowly getting into a routine, and knock on wood getting a little more sleep each and every night. Big brother has adjusted amazingly well and is fascinated with little brother or in his own words (baby is) "so cute!" or rather "AWW SOOOO CUTE!" I do hope you forgive me for my extended absence, but I just want to soak up all the little moments with my new little one, because I know how quickly it all flies by.

Time to go... I hear a little one squeaking...

Big brother's first meeting, he was thrilled to finally "see the baby!"

Our last night in the hospital, spent under bilirubin lights to ward off that dreaded jaundice.

At home, and happily sleeping in a pose eerily similar to his big brother at the same age.

Every day more and more alert. Around 3 weeks old at this point.

Freshly bathed, bright eyed and bushy tailed. One month and three days old, photo taken this past Monday.